Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-08-04
AMONG THE INSANE.
Thrilling Experiences of a Profess
sfonal Nurse.
lrrnm the phila. Sunday News.

tFlom the Phila. Sunday News
Alfred J. Mutt, the professional
nurse, who was in attendance upon
John Mccullough when he made his
last appearance upon the stage,and who
nursed the tragedian during the greater
norton of his illness, has had some SIM
cular experiences. He served four
years course in st. Thomas Hospital,
London, to perfect him for his profess
sion. He was afterwards connected
with Guys and Bartholomew's Hos
pital, I.opdon. The course of instruc-
tion is very complete and requires near
ly as much close study as is necessary
to become physician or surgeon,
Upon entering an English hospital
for instruction the student is first rc-
quired TO serve a term in washing bot
ties in the dispensary. His next work
is ssbody snatching." This includes
the handling OF the bodies OF ali dead
patients and their removal from the
wards to tho mortuary. His next place
of service is the accident ward, and
after familiarizing himself with every
variety OF accident he serves successive.
ly in tie medical and then in the sur
gical wards. Four years elapse before
he completes this found, and then he is
a qualified Nurse. The compensation
for the work is trifling.
Mr.. Mutt has been all over the world
In the capacity Of nurse since gradual
ing, and in 1876 was one of Florence
Nightingale's famous corps of trained
nurses that went to Genoa, Poorman
and Carthagenia during the prevalence
Of the Asiatic Cholera.
AslATIC CHOLERA PATIENTS.
The nurses served seven months at
Genoa, where the deaths nsmbered tens
of thousands, and none of them con-
tracted the disease. The hospitals
were built upon poles, similar to those
used in India and other warm climates,
in order to allow a current of air to pass
underneath. Each building was ward
in itself, and had accommodations for
twenty patients. Mr.. Mutt gave some
idea of the fearful mortality by the
statement that during any day of the
seven months of service it was a rare
occurrence to find two living patients
at 6 O'Clock in the morning out of
the twenty he had left at 10 O'Clock the
previous night when he went off duty.
Before commencing their twelve
months service at Poorman and Car
thagenia the nurses were taken 10 Con-
stantinople for rest. 1t is singular
fact that of the number who We're in
the service but two died, and neither of
these of cholera, one of them having
been drowned in the Bay of Biscay and
the other dying at Constantinople from
other causes. No preyentatives were
used, and Mr.. Mutt ascribes their es-
Gaping the disease to utter fearleSsneSS;
the keeping of the system in regular
condition plenty of open air exercise
and careful diet.
HUMAN 6AsoMETER.
Since his arrival in this country, Mr..
Nuts attention has been mostly given
to the care of insane persons, of whom
he relates many curious ana interesting
incidents. One of these, who had lost
large fortune in oil speculation. i'm
agined himself a gasometer. Mr.. Mutt
had considerable trouble in pacifying
him. He would cry out that he was so
full of gas that he would explode, and
would ask his nurse to tap him. Act
ing upon this suggestion, Mutt pressed
his hand gently on the insane mans
diaphragm and be at once commenced
to make a Kissing noise like escaping
steam. Whenever he became frantic
afterwards the operation would be re-
peated and the poor fellow would sink
back contentedly upon his bed and say,
THANK God that terrible ordeal is
over
Another patient labored under the
hallucination that he was pursued by
an army of Cinnamon, and that count
less numbers of the Celestials were con-
stantly coming through his window.
He would shrek with terror and hide
himself under the bed-clothes from tie
imaginary pursuers. He was finally
quieted by the hanging of knotted
rope near his bed, at which he would
tug constantly, and at each pull say,
Another pigtail gone" This was
kept up until his death, for he thought
that it would take lifetime to depopu-
late the Flowery Kingdom.
One of the saddest cases that Mr..
Mutt ever handled was robust and
handsome young fellow holding an ex-
cellent position and moving in good
circles of society in New York city. He
became engaged to lady in sphere of
life much above his own, and the cards
were out for the wedding. Two weeks
before the time announced for the cere-
mony 10 take place be became despond-
ent oyer his inability to meet the ex-
penses necessary to the occasion. This
preyed upon his mind so much that his
reason was dethroned. Mr. Mutt was
summoned-to attend him and thus tells
of the case:
lie was bnstling.around his room in
a. full dress suit when arrived, aud
was anxiously awaiting the arrival of
his bride. Upon entering his room he
greeted me warmly, and asked whether
the special train with his bride had ar
rived. He said the event of his mar
riage would be the topic of conYersa-
tion. That the Fifth Avenue Hotel